Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VI/Hymn 55

55. For various blessings.

[Brahman (?).—1. vāiçvadevī, jagatī; 2, 3. rāudryāu: 2. triṣṭubh; 3. jagatī.]

Not found in Pāipp., but in TS. (v. 7. 23-4) etc. as noted below. Used by Kāuç. (52. 1) in a rite for welfare, on going away; and vs. 2 is reckoned (note to 50. 13) to the rāudra gaṇa. With vs. 2, according to Vāit. 2. 16, are offered the prayājas in the parvan sacrifice; and with vs. 3 (8. 5), the initial and final homas in the āgrayaṇa.

Translated: Ludwig, p. 218; Griffith, i. 275.—As to cycles of lunar years, see Zimmer, p. 370.

1. The many paths, traveled by the gods, that go between heaven-and-earth—whichever of them shall carry [one] to unscathedness, to that one, O gods, do ye all here give me over.

The first half-verse is also iii. 15. 2 a, b. TS. begins yé catvā́raḥ patháyo, and ends b with viyánti (metrically better); its c is téṣāṁ yó ájyānim ájītim āváhāt; and in d it has nas for mā, and datta for dhatta. PGS. (iii. 1. 2) agrees with TS. except in this last point, and in combining yo ‘jyānim in c; MB. (ii. 1. 10) ⌊also agrees with TS. save that it⌋ has ajījim for ajītim. The comm. has datta, like TS., and it is the better reading. Both this verse and vs. 3 are incomplete as jagatī.

2. Hot season, winter, cool season, spring, autumn, rains—do ye set us in welfare (svitá); portion ye us in kine, in progeny; may we verily be in your windless shelter.

TS. and MB. (ii. 1. 11) read utá nas for çíçiras in a, end b with suvitáṁ no astu, and have, for c, d, téṣām ṛtūṇā́ḿ çatáçāradānāṁ nivātá eṣām ábhaye syāma. ⌊See also MGS. ii. 8. 6 a, and p. 158, s.v. hemanto. PGS. (iii. 2. 2) follows TS. except that it ends with vasema and has for b çivā varṣā abhayā çaran naḥ.⌋

3. Unto the idā-year, the pari-year, the sam-year, pay ye great homage; may we be in the favor of these worshipful ones, likewise in their auspicious well-willing.

TS. begins with the idvatsara or id-year (in the form iduvat-), and has, for d, jyóg ájītā áhatāḥ syāma; MB. (ii. 1. 12) differs from it only in the form idvat-; PGS. (iii. 2. 2) also agrees except in giving in a the whole series of five year-names of the cycle: saṁv-, pariv-, idāv-, id-vatsarāya, and vatsarāya. Our latter half-verse occurs repeatedly in RV. (e.g. iii. 1. 21 c, d*), and once more in AV. (xviii. 1. 58 c, d). Ppp. xvii. 6. 15 enumerates in succession ṛtavas, ārtavās, and idā-, anu-, pari-, and samvatsarās. The comm. quotes from an unknown source the following verse: cāndrāṇām prabhavādīnām pañcake-pañcake yuge: sam-parī-’dā-’nv-id-ityetacchabdapūrvās tu vatsarās. *⌊With slight changes; and verbatim at x. 14. 6.⌋